Norman Gilbert Bryce
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 Mar 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Bruce Rock, Western Australia |
| Death | 5 Oct 2006 |
| Place of Death | Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 6 months |
| Description | 5'4" (1.63m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; dark hair ; scar on left calf |
| Occupation | labourer |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Address | Albany road Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Gilbert Bryce |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX20083 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 Sep 1941 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 64th Australia Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 2 May 1945 ‒ 11 May 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Kanimbla (F23) Brisbane to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 21 Sep 1945 ‒ 23 Sep 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Westralia (F95) Morotai to Ambon |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 4 Jan 1946 ‒ 20 Jan 1946 |
| Transport Details | unknown Morotai to Perth |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Soon after he enlisted at Claremont, Norm was detached to a depot unit at Ascot, returning to the Claremont camp on 17 Mar 1942 before being transferred to 2/10th Armoured Regiment reinforcements on 23 Mar 1942. Four days later on 27 Mar 1942 Norm boarded the USAT Monterey for Victoria where he was sent to the Puckapunyal camp for training. Still with the 2/10th Armoured Regiment he moved to NSW on 11 Jul 1942. On 23 Jul 1942 he was admitted to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with Rubella, returning to his unit on 1 Aug 1942. On 14 Oct 1942 he was found guilty of having Failed to remain on duty until relieved. He was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks.
On 10 Dec 1942 he returned to WA, where on 1 Jul 1943 he was granted Proficiency Pay. However, he was AWOL from 8:00am on 27 Oct to 4:00pm on 1 Nov 1944 and as a result had his Proficiency Pay withdrawn, along with a fine of £2 ($4). From 13 - 30 Nov 1944 he was granted LWOP in order to assist with local harvesting. On 5 Feb 1945 Norm was transferred to the 1st Australian Base Depot and on 15 Feb 1945 sent to the Australian Jungle Training Centre, emerging from there on 6 Mar 1945 to rejoin the 1st Australian Army reinforcement Depot. On 9 Apr 1945 he was AWOL from 6:15 am until 12:00 noon. Fined 5/-, he did not lose the days pay as his absence was less than 6 hours.
On 2 May 1945 along with others from the reinforcement depot he boarded the HMAS Kanimbla (F23) in Brisbane for Morotai, where they arrived on 11 May 1945. On 25 Aug 1945 he was posted to the 64th Battalion, then on Morotai, and on 21 Sep 1945 they boarded the HMAS Westralia (F95) for Ambon where they were to take over from the Japanese. On 15 Oct 1945 he was charged with Using insubordinate language to his superior officer, for which he was fined £5 ($10). On 4 Jan 1946 Norm left Ambon, having been transferred back to a depot in Western Australia for reposting - arriving there on 20 Jan 1946.
On 19 Feb 1946 he was charged with having been AWOL from 2:00pm on the previous day until 1:15pm. His penalty was a fine of £1, and the forfeiture of a days pay. Eventually he was discharged on 15 Apr 1946.
Post War
During 1961 Norm married Norma Jean Eldershaw in Fremantle.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Mundaring Weir, PWD fireman; 1958 at 85 Parker street, Bassendean, labourer; 1968 - 1977 at 11 Harbour road, Kwinana, labourer; 1980 at 3/5 Jecks street Rockingham, storeman.
Notes